For Lee, Ketchum, St. Anthony's race part of comeback trail

Lauren Harris breaks her own national record in the 1,500 racewalk

By Brian Towey for DyeStat

SOUTH HUNTINGTON, N.Y. -- The 1,500-meter duel Saturday involving junior Katherine Lee (Shoreham-Wading River NY) and senior Ella Ketchum (Poly Prep, Brooklyn, NY) at the St. Anthony’s Invitational was more than just an entertaining early season race.

For Lee, her victory in 4 minutes, 36.2 seconds was another step toward normalcy following a grade-three ankle sprain that she suffered this winter after she was clipped from behind by another runner in the girls mile Feb. 11 at the NYRR Millrose Games.

“It was such a huge shock, getting clipped from behind,” said Lee, who missed the remainder of the indoor season and only recently began competing again.

“In practice, I made sure that I was in my own lane or away from everyone (after the incident). ... Today I did a good job of letting girls get behind me.”

For Ketchum, like Lee, Saturday’s runner-up finish in 4:40.65 marked a bounce-back scenario following a devastating injury.

“I didn't run cross country because of a stress fracture,” Ketchum said. “I started running in February. It was difficult, being out six months. ... I’ve been taking it slowly, doing 20-25 miles of training a week.”

Both athletes showed glimpses Saturday of their better selves. Ketchum seized the lead early, with Lee steps behind, pulling the field through a 71-second opening 400. Lee stayed on Ketchum’s shoulder through 800 meters (2:26), nudging forward at the 1,000-meter mark for a slight lead.

Following the bell, Lee moved decisively at 350 meters, widening her stride to open up the gap before churning rhythmically through the final straightaway.

“I just wanted to hang on and see what I had left, like I used to do,” Lee said. “The time wasn’t great, but I’m happy I’m headed in the right direction.”

Ketchum was also pleased with the result, as the 4:33 1,500 runner continues to regain her form.

“I've been very conservative in my racing,” she said. “I went from 5:04 (in the mile April 22 at the New York Relays) to 5:00 to this race.”

Next up for Lee is the mile and the 4x800 relay May 13 at the 50th Glenn D. Loucks Games at White Plains NY. Shoreham-Wading River placed eighth in the Championship of America in the 4x800 at the Penn Relays in 9:15.18.

“I want to get some times that are better before I start looking at colleges,” said Lee, who ran 9:37 in the 3,000 meters and a 4:53 mile this winter before her injury.

“The college coaches have been so understanding, but I want to do some things to impress them.”

Ketchum’s college status is secure. She’s headed to Dartmouth in the fall. And, in fact, her experience with the stress fracture had a hand in her decision.

“I’m always running on concrete. We run through our neighborhood (in Brooklyn),” Ketchum said. “I’ve never been a good cross country runner. That’s one of the reasons I decided to go to Dartmouth. I thought about going to city schools, (but) I wanted to be able to run on trails and experience cross country.”

Harris breaks 1,500 racewalk record agin

Sachem East NY senior Lauren Harris broke the national high school 1,500-meter racewalk record in 6:22.96, bettering her own mark of 6:32.49 from a year ago.

“(Saturday) was a little bit of a rust-buster,” Harris said. “It was my first real race with real competition.”

Harris heads to Peru this week to compete in the 10-kilometer racewalk for the U.S. U-20 National Team at the Pan-American Games.

“Honestly, the 10K is still a little bit new to me,” she said. “The nerves are high because of the competition.”

Etienne makes bar at 7-2.50

Jyles Etienne, a senior from the Stony Brook School NY cleared 7-2.50 in the high jump. Smithtown East senior Daniel Claxton, who has also cleared 7 feet, was second at 6-10.

Shoreham-Wading River demonstrates distance prowess

Shoreham-Wading River, the 4xMile champion at New Balance Nationals Indoor continues to flex its muscle in the middle-distance and distance races.

Senior Alexandra Hayes produced a 10:00.09 solo effort for the win in the 3,000 meters. Senior Payton Capes-Davis finished a close third behind Ketchum in the 1,500 (4:41.95).

Claiborne wins tight 1,600

The boys 1,600 meters saw one of the day’s most exciting finishes, as Northport junior Isaiah Claiborne emerged seemingly from nowhere in the last 150 meters to outsprint St. Anthony’s junior Mason Gatewood and Sachem North senior Christopher Tibbetts, 4:18.52 to 4:18.65 and 4:18.99

Claiborne will run in the 3,200 this week at the Loucks Games.